ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to present the budget for the fiscal year 2026–27 in the National Assembly on June 12, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Tuesday, indicating another change in the budget timeline amid ongoing consultations.
According to the minister, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will table the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year before the lower house of Parliament.
The expected presentation on June 12 marks yet another adjustment to the government’s budget schedule. Initially, the federal budget was set to be unveiled on June 5, however, it was later deferred to June 10 due to discussions with coalition partners and deliberations over proposed fiscal measures.
In a post shared on X, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that summaries had been forwarded to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate.
He said a National Assembly session has been proposed for June 10 at 5pm, while a separate summary has also been sent to summon the Senate session on the same day at 4pm.
The parliamentary affairs minister added that the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026–27 is now expected to be presented on June 12.
At the same time, uncertainty surrounding the budget process continues as the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), which was scheduled for June 8, was postponed for the third consecutive time at the last moment.
The delay reportedly came amid continued negotiations over the approval of the national development programme and the broader macroeconomic framework that will shape the upcoming budget.
So far, authorities have not released a revised official schedule for the Economic Survey of Pakistan or the formal budget presentation, adding to speculation over the final timeline.
The latest development follows reports that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally of the ruling coalition, assured its support to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government for the passage of the federal budget.
Sources said the assurance came during an important consultative meeting held at Aiwan-e-Sadr between a PPP delegation led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to insiders, both sides reached a broad consensus on most budget proposals, while technical committees have been tasked with continuing discussions on a few unresolved matters to finalise the fiscal strategy.
During the meeting, President Zardari reportedly stressed that the upcoming budget should prioritise public welfare, economic stability, and the protection of provincial rights.
He also underscored the importance of aligning economic growth initiatives with measures that directly benefit the public.
Parliamentary sources had earlier indicated that concerns raised by coalition allies over certain proposed fiscal measures contributed to the repeated delays in the budget schedule, forcing the government to continue negotiations before finalising the proposals.
Speaking last week, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government was working closely with coalition partners to develop consensus, terming the discussions positive.
He stated that the budget was being prepared in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), allied political parties, and other stakeholders, with emphasis on improving tax collection through stricter enforcement and broadening the tax base.
Aurangzeb further said the government aims to avoid introducing new taxes while maintaining a balance between fiscal consolidation, political harmony, and economic recovery.
As per constitutional requirements, Parliament must approve the federal budget before June 30 for it to come into effect from July 1 nationwide.
Meanwhile, budget documents revealed that the federal government has proposed a development outlay exceeding Rs1.1 trillion for the fiscal year 2026–27, with allocations planned across multiple sectors to support national development priorities.
